Method and apparatus for forming fibrous material



Aug.18,1942. c. L. NORTON I umgon AND APPARATUiS FOR FORMING FIBROUSMATERIAL In venior:

f. Mau qi w I Patented Aug, 18, lj 942 I Marxian AND APPARATUS For;ronMmG FIBROUS MATERIAL 7 Charles L. Norton, deceased, late of Boston,Mass, by Dorothy Norton,- Boston, Mass, and Charles L. Norton, Jr., NewYork, N. Y., executors Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,082

, 10 Claims. (01.18-8).

In a prior application, Serial No. 117,600, filed December 24, 1936, nowPatent No. 2,265,742, are described a method and apparatus for producinga continuous length of fibrous material, for example, a roving, yarn,cord. or the like, from a men a pointed electrode above referred to.With the latter arrangement, each fibre, in the I field or region of itsformation, is attracted at succession of discontinuous artificialfibresby" the electrostatic disruption into such fibres of a viscousliquid capable of rapid solidification, and the progressive withdrawalof the fibres, asthey are formed, to a suitable collecting apparatus.

As described in said application, the method includes electrifying theviscous liquid, for example,

a solution of cellulose acetate in acetone, with an electrostatic chargewhile delivering thesame from, a nozzle in a continuous stream, therebycausing the stream to be disrupted and solidified into fibres in aregion adjacent to but spaced from the point of delivery, collecting thefibres as they are formed on previously formed fibres in the form of afreely depending tail, and progressively withdrawing the tail, as itbuilds up, over a grounded support to form a sliver which may j be leddirectly to a twisting and winding mecha- IllSm.

It has been found that the character, and particularly the evenness andstrength, of the yarn or the like produced by the practice of the abovemethod can be very greatly improved by subjectone end by the electrodeand at the other by the taiLcausing it to straighten out. The end of thefibre attracted by theelectrode is prevented from approaching andadhering to the latter by the stream or current of electrified air whichis pro-' jected from said electrode due to its pointed form.Consequently, asone end of the fibre is attracted toward and carriedinto engagement with the tail, the opposite end attracted by theelectrostatic field createdlby the electrode, so as to hold the fibrerelatively straight, said fibre being, at the same time-caused orpermitted by the air current to move toward the tail and to be drawn ininto even and more truly parallel relation to the .preceding fibres. Inthis way it has been found possible to produce a fine, even yarn ofexcellent quality and appearance having nearly three times the tensilestrength andelasticity required by theminimum standards of leadingmanufacturers of textile material of this general character. p p p Theinvention best be understood from the following description of thearrangement and operation of certain forms of apparatus embodying thefibres, as they are formed and collected.

to the effect of an electrified field of opposite polarity, andpreferably substantially equal potential, to that of the disruptingchargePThis is preferably done by means of a pointed electrode locatedbeneath the nozzle and at the same side of the field orregion of fibreformation, and directed or pointed toward the latter. As explained inthe prior application above referred to, due to the electrostaticaction, thematerial leaves the nozzle in the form of a 'tonguein a stateof violent, agitation or vibrationwhich causes the resuiting fibres toassume amore or less sinuous form and heterogeneous arrangement in thefield of fibre formation. By reason, however, of the fact that the tailis supported in depending position, the fibres tend to move endwise andmore or less upwardly into engagement therewith in orderly and generallyparallel relatioinship.

This is believed to be because each fibre, as it is formed, has itselectrostatic chargeconcentrated at the ends, and the nearer of theseends 1tends to attach itself to the free end of the taiLleavv a ing theremainder of, the fibre free to'be drawn in into parallel relationship,withthe other fibres.

This action is assisted, and the resultingeffect ing the same and bywhich it may be practiced, as illustratedin the accompanying drawing,the particular arrangements shown and the particular operationsdescribed having,,however, been chosen for purposes of exemplificationmerely, as it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that theinvention, asdefined by the claims hereunto appended, may beotherwiseembodied and practiced without departure from the spirit and scopethereof. It will also be understood that the theoretical statementsherein contained as to the behavior of the materials, the effect ofvarious ,factors involved, etcl, are based on applicants presentknowledge of these matters, and are for the purpose of giving thefullest possible information now known to them,but without in- 5 tentionto limit themselves to the particular theories advanced.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly broken away, of anarrangement of ap paratus embodying and suitable, for practicing theinvention. i f

Fig. 2 is an, enlarged diagrammatic fvie'w illustrating the formationand collection of the fibres.

, Except as hereinafter pointed out, the'apparatus shown is similar tothat described in prior application Serial No. 150,308, above referredto,

and includes a reservoir l (Fig. 1) for the viscous liquid material ofwhich the fibres are to be formed, for example a solution of celluloseacej tate in acetone. Means are preferably provided for applying a lightpressure, indicated-by a gauge I l, to the material in the reservoir,as, for

under pressure and controlled by a valve I3. A supply pipe l4 controlledby a valve I5 may also be provided for replenishing the solution in thereservoir from time to time as may be required.

' Leading from the reservoir [0 is a standpipe Ii communicating with a.conduit II leading to a delivery spout or nozzle [8 having anunobstructed discharge orifice of substantial size, for examexample, apipe l2 leading from a source of air ple a diameter or the order of $4;of an inch, or I greatly in excess oi thatv of the fibres to be formed.At a suitable point in the system, for example at the junction of thestandpipe i6 and conduit I], there is preferably interposed a meteringpump l9 driven by a suitable motor '20.

' able source of electric potential one pole, for example, the positivepole, of which is connected with the conduit I! or other part of thedischarge system as indicated at 23, whereby the liquid, prior to and atthe instant of its discharge, is electrified with anelectrostatic chargeof single polarity. As-a convenient means for controlling the potentialof the charge, an adover the guide 26 'and allowed to hang down in thewater stream to serve asa start for the fibres to build on. Said fibresare collected in or by contact with the wet string and the liquid 33which flows through said region, whence they may be progressivelywithdrawn from said region and from said stream of liquid upwardly, orin a direction opposite to the direction of fiow of said stream, overthe support 26, so that the continued formation of "fibres in saidregion and stream causes them to be built up on the tail 3! of fibrespreviously formed, resulting in the production of a. continuous sliveror length 38 of fibrous material which is withdrawn over the support '26and led' to the twisting and winding apparatus where it is twisted intoa yarn.

In-accordance with the present invention there 'is provided, beneath thenozzle [8, a pointed .The potential of the charge imposed upon theelectrode 40 can be conveniently controlled by an adjustable spark gap42 in a ground connection 43 leading from the connection 4|. Preferablythe electrostatic charges imposed upon the nozzle l8 and electrode 40,while of opposite polarity, are

of substantially equal potential, although this is susceptible ofvariation.

Referring particularly to Fig.

. vibration of the tongue 44 of electrified liquid as justable spark gap24 may be included in a ground connectiog 22 leading from the connection23. The pote tial employed is susceptible of considerable variation inaccordance with the length and fineness of the fibres desired; It shouldnot .be materially less than 5600 volts or materially greater than13,000 volts, and is preferably of the order of from 7000to 9000 volts.The electrified parts are all insulated from their support as indicatedat 25.

Spaced horizontally from the discharge spout ll is the collectingapparatus which, asshown,

' comprises a support as in the form of'a short trough or guide, and asuitablelwinding and twisting apparatus which, as shown, comprises aspin- .dle 21 and fiyer 28 operatedby an electric motor 20 throughsuitable power. transmitting connections adapted to rotate the spindleand fiyer at .auitable point of disposal through a conduit 35.

Between the'support 2i and spindle 21 may be suitably positioned guidingmeans 9 as well as wipers 0 for removing excess moisture.

, With the apparatus arranged as above described, when the pump l9 andelectrostatic machine 2| are started the material is discharged from thespout l8 in a highly electrified condition and is separated or disruptedinto fine particles which are drawn out and solidified intodiscontinuous fibres in a region 36 adjacent to but spaced from thespout A leader of cotton string is attached to the spindle 21 and passedit leaves the nozzle l8, the fibres initially formed are of sinuous formand more or less heterogeneous arrangement, as indicated at 45, :butsince their electrostatic charges are concentrated at their ends, theend of each fibre nearest the grounded tail 3'! is attracted thereto, asindicated at 46, while the opposite ,end is attracted toward theelectrode 40, as indicated at 4 1, so that the fibres straighten out andtend to arrange themselves more or less inparallelism. The ends 41,

' themselves to the tall, the remainder of the fibres will be drawn inin parallel relation, resulting in an even and altogether satisfactorysliver.

What is claimed is: 1. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres,

the method which comprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge astream of liquid of a character adapted to form individual fibres whenso disrupted, providing a ground including a sliver for attracting thedisrupted fibres' by electro-- static action, supporting the sliver soas to pro- 'vide a depending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres asthey are formed and in the region of .said tail to the effect of anelectrified current or air carrying a charge of opposite polarity tothat of the disrupting charge and moving in a direction toward saidsliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselves insubstantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise to oneanother and to the sliver tail,

2, due to the static action, supporting the sliver so as to provide adepending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and inthe region of said tail to the efiect of an electrified current of aircarrying a charge of opposite polarity to and of substantially equalpotential to that of the disrupting charge and moving in a directiontoward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselvesin substantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise toone another and to the silver tail, and progressively withdrawing thesilver at a speed to render the same continuous.

3. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres, the method whichcomprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge a stream of liquid of acharacter adapted to form individual fibres when so disrupted, providinga ground including a sliver wetted with a non-solvent electricallyconductive liquid for attracting the disrupted fibres by I fibres upon atail of previously formed fibres de-- pending from said support andsliver.

6. An apparatus for forming asliver of' textile fibres comprising-incombination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuousfibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of .an electrostaticcharge, means for subjecting said field toan electrostatic charge ofopposite polarity and substantially equal potential to that of saidfirst-named charge, a grounded support above said field adapted tosupport a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and means forprogreslsively withdrawing a sliver of said fibres upward 1y over saidsupport as it is built up by the collection ofsuccessively formed fibresupon a tail of a previously formed fibres depending from said supportand sliver.

7. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, incombination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuousfibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of an electrostaticcharge, a pointed electrode having an electrostatic charge of oppositepolarity to that of said first-named charge adjacent said field anddirected toward the latter, a grounded support above said field adaptedto support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and meanselectrostatic action, supporting the sliver so as I ,to provide adepending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and inthe region of said tail to the effect of an electrified current of aircarrying a charge of opposite polarity to that of the disrupting chargeand moving in a direction toward said sliver, whereby the fibres arecaused to arrange themselves in substantially parallel relation and toattach themselves endwise to one another and to the sliver tail,continuously wetting the sliver with said electrically conductiveliquid, and progressively withdrawing the sliver at a speed to renderthe same continuous.

4. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres, the method whichcomprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge a stream of liquid of acharacted adapted to form individual fibres when so disrupted, providinga ground including a sliver wetted with a non-solvent electricallyconductive liquid for attracting the disrupted fibres by electrostaticaction, supporting the sliver so as to provide a depending tail thereon,subjecting said fibres as they are formed and in the region of said tailto the efifectof an electrified current of air carrying a charge ofopposite polarity to that of the disrupting charge and moving in adirection toward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrangethemselves in substantially parallel relation and to attach themselvesendwise to one another and to the sliver tail, and progressivelywithdrawing the sliver from the field of fibre formation counter to thefiow of said stream of electrically conducting liquid at a speed torender the sliver continuous.

' 5. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, incombination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuousfibres in a field of fibre formation by theaction of an electrostaticcharge, means for subjecting said field to an electrostatic charge ofopposite polarity to that of said first-named charge, a grounded supportabove said field adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependenttail, and means for progressively withdrawing a sliver of said fibresupwardly over said support as it is built up by the collection ofsuccessively formed for progressively withdrawing a sliver of saidfibres upwardly over said support as it is built up by the collection ofsuccessively formed fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibresdepending from said support and sliver.

8. An apparatus for forming artificial fibrous material from a spinningliquid capable of electrostatic disruption comprising, in combination, anozzle, means for delivering the liquid from said nozzle in the form ofan electrified stream, whereby said liquid, as it leaves said nozzle, isbroken up and solidified into discontinuous fibres in a region adjacentto but spaced from said nozzle, a pointed electrode having anelectrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said liquid locatedbelow said nozzle at the same side of said region and directed towardthe latter, a support above said region adapted to support a sliver witha freely dependent tail, and means for progressively withdrawing theresulting material upwardly over said support in a continuous length asit is built up by the collection of successively formed fibres upon atail of previously formed fibres depending from said support.

9. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, incombination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuousfibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of an electrostaticcharge, means for subjecting said field to an electrostatic charge ofopposite polarity to that of said first-named charge, a groundedsupport, means for progressively withdrawing a sliver of said fibresover said support as it is built up by the collection of successivelyformed fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibres depending fromsaid support and sliver, and means for progressively wetting said tallwith a non-solvent, electrically conductive liquid.

10. An apparatus for forming artificial fibrous material from a spinningliquid capable of electrostatic disruption comprising, in combination,

' a pointed electrode having an electrostatic charge of oppositepolarity to that of said liquid located below said nozzle at the sameside of said region and directed toward the latter, a support above 4said region adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail,means for progressively withdrawing the resulting material upwardly oversaid support in a continuous length as it is built' from said support,and means for directing over said supportandtailaialling streamotanelectrically conductive liquid in which said fibres are insoluble. vi

. DOROTHY NORTON,

- CHARLES L. NORTON, Jn., Executor: 0/ the Estate of Charles L. Norton,de-

ceased. Y

